Safety apparatus



A. DURAN.

SAFETY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29. L919.

Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1..

v A. DURAN.

SAFETY APPARATUS.

APPLlCAHON FILED JULY 2911919.

1,406,625, Patented Feb. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

To all whom/ct may concern:

UNITED STATES.

PATENT rnomcizj ARTURO'DURAN; OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

sarntrr swimw Application filed hi a,

mechanism to permit a vehiclereaching a street crossing first to have the right of way, and to automatically erect obstructions in the path of those coming fromthe other directions. 4 V,

Another object is to construct such mechaniSHiso that it will simultaneously erectan obstacle inthe"path of anapproaching vehicle and operate a signal positioned in the center of the street, or other suitable point. Another object is to so construct such mechanism that all the operating parts will be thoroughly protected against the weather and against tampering. by unauthorized persons. p 7 I With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides inthe combination and arrangement of parts-and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimedv without departing from the spirit of the "inyention.

In the accompanying drawings:--

Figure 1 represents a plan view showing the relative positions of the parts constituting this invention located at the intersection of two streets, T f

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section, I Fig. 3 is a plan view of the vehicle receiving platform with the top removed,

Fig. 43 is a side elevation thereof. the street being shown in section, I

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section thereof. The post or semaphore whichis designed to be located at the center of reach street crossing may be of any suitable construc-. tion and comprises principally a casing 1, which is adapted to be embedded in the ground for a purpose whichwill later appear. An upstanding post 9 extends 'ver tically from the interiorof the casing 1. and its upper end} is provided [with a member 10 from which radiate plates or wings 12,

Specification of Iletters Patent. 7 .Patented Feb, 14, 1.922,

1919. Serial in. 314365.

containing'various indicia to indicate the condition of the crossing.

The inner side walls of the oasing'lare provided at diametrically opposite points with pairs of vertically spaced apertured lugs 15 to receive right angularly disposed links 16 which are pivotally mounted between the lugs at their angles. The free ends of the links 16 have engaged therewith coiled springs 17, four ofavhich are here shown and which are connected at their other ends with the free ends of similar linkslS and 19 pivoted at their angles to the opposite ends of a pair of arms 20 and 21 secured to the post 9.

Mounted on bolts 5 inside the casing 1,

are four pulleys 22 "around which pass chains These chains also pass around the'grooves fOllllGCllIl the ends of the arms 20 and 21 and are secured to the bolts 2 1. These chainspass out through the side walls of the casing into the tubes 25, four of which are shown arranged in pairs at diametrically opposite points and which are bolted to the outer wall of the casing 1 as clearly shown in Figure 2. These'tubes 25 extend from the casing 1 to the platforms 35, 36, 37 and 38,positioned at the corners of the street,'as' most clearly shown in Figure 1, the chains 23 passing through I said tubes for a purpose presently tobe T described. I V I a I I The'post or semaphore is located in the center of the street crossingas shown in 1, the casingfll thereof being located in o a pit or hole in the street and is firmly secured therein by any suitablemeans. The

normal position of the semaphore arms or wings 12 should be in the direction ofthe corners of the street, and in the same direc-tionas the axles of the pulleys 22. The

protecting tubes 25 of the chains 23 are located below the surface of the pavement and are connected to the four platforms at the corners of the streets A an'd B as is shown clearly in Fig. 1. These platforms are placed at the extremity ofthe right hand corner of each street and are mount-ed in pits or holes in the street as 18 shown clearly ing Fig. 4 so that they may, move vertically in said pits, their surfaces or'upper faces being normally fiushwith the pavement.

, These'platforrns are all'exactly alikefand hence one only will be described in. detail. Supported in the pit 39 is a frame mounted at one endpn. uprights i0 and at its other end supported in nitches or recesses 41 in the rear end wall of the pit as is shown clearly in Fig. 4. r

Each of the platforms comprises two vertically movable members 42 and 60. The member 42 is pivotally mounted at its front endv on standards 43, and is provided at its rear end with dependin links 44 having slots 45 in their free en s. These slots 45 are engaged with studs 46 which project laterally from supporting beams 47 mounted in the pit. These beams or longitudinally disposed bars 47 are braced to the side bars 48 of the frame which is mounted on the standards 40 and in their nitches 41. These links 44 are also fulcrumed to levers 49 carried by a shaft 50.

A segment 51 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 52 supported in vertical alinement with and below the shaft 50 as is shown clearly in Fig. 5, the upper corner of said segment being engaged with shaft 50. Mounted in longitudinal alinement with each segment 51 is a pulley 53, and supported in a frame 54 in advance or at the front end of the platform structure is another pulley 55 disposed in a plane at right angles to the pulley 53.. The chain 23 entering through pipes 25, passes around these pulleys 55 and 53 and up over the periphery of the segment 51 which is grooved to receive the chain, said chain being fixed to shaft 50, so that a pull exerted 011 the chain will operate to turn the shaft. V

A shaft 56 isjournaled in the side bars 48 of the platform supporting structure, and has mounted on its opposite ends bell crank levers 57, the shaft forming a fulcrum therefor. ,lThe short arm 58 of each'of these leversis pivotally connected with a lug 59 depending from the'front end of the platform member 60, the long arm 58 of said bell crank is pivotally connected at 61 with one end of a link 62, it'being understood that these links 62 are in duplicate, one being ar ranged at each side of the platform. The other ends of these links 62 are engaged with the shaft 50 fora purpose presently vto be described. 5 I Heavy coiled springs 63 are mounted below the platform member andjoperate to turn said member to operative position after depression. I

l A coiled spring 64 is connected at one end with a depending apertured lug 65 carried by the lower face of the member 60 near its rear end and at its other end said spring is engaged with a cross rod66 supported in the side bars 48 of the frame. These springs are made very heavy and powerful and are designedto return to normal position the platform 60 when weight is removed therefrom. 1 The springs63 are also made powerful and are intended to raise the platform from surface of the supporting frame, and

operate only at a weight of five hundred pounds, more or less.

Two pairs of twin links 67, preferably composed of steel, support the rear end of the platform member 60 permitting it to move forward and backward.

, The platform members 42 and 60 have covers, preferably of wood, on which the vehicles are designed to rest. t

In the use of this invention, a vehicle coming, down street B and reaching platform 35 before those coming in opposite direction on street A and street B, will be driven onto the platform 35 and depress the members thereof, which will exert a pull on the chain 23 leading from the front end of the platform, which in turn will operate to pull on one of the arms 20 or 21 according to which it is connected. This pull on the arm will operate to turn the post 9 and actuate the signals carried by said post. The turning of the post will simultaneously exert a pull on the chain 23 of platforms 36 and 38 thereby forcing thefront members 42 of said platforms into elevated position and causing their rear members 60 to recede thereby giving an unobstructed road to the car which passes over platform 37.

The vehicle having 35, the movements of the apparatus are reversed, lowering the obstacles or stop members 42 of platforms 36 and 38 and raisingthe front member 42 of platforms 35 and 37. The obstacles in the form of the platform members 42 are designed to rise to a height of eighteen inches above the level ,of the street, more or less, retaining an inclined position toward the front and are intended to prevent the progress of cars passing over the respective platforms forming obstructions in the path of the carswithout danger of injuring them. f

The apparatus functions at the moment when one of its four platforms is depressed, and theyoperate with a pressure or weight of five hundred pounds, more or less,

passed from platform From the above description it will'be obv vious' that street crossings equipped with this apparatus will be absolutely safe against all possible collisions, and the semaphore which is located at the center of the crossing will indicate to pedestrians as well as to vehicles, the direction which may be traversed with safety. y

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method ofoperation will be readily apparent to those skilled in-the art to which the invention appertains and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I'desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as are within the scope of the claimed invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism for intersecting roads, the combination of an obstructor placed near each corner of the intersection; a vehicle operated mechanism located adjacent each corner of the intersection, and connections between said vehicle operated mechanisms and obstructors, where by actuation of one of said vehicle operated mechanisms will actuate the obstructors located on the intersecting road.

2. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism for a street crossing, a vertically movable platform located at each corner of the crossing, an obstructor in front of each platform, and connections between said platforms, and obstructors whereby a predetermined weight on one platform will actuate the obstructors of the intersecting street to locate them in the path of passing vehicles.

3. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism for a street-crossing, a vertically movable' platform located at each corner of the crossing, an obstructor in front of each platform, and connections between said platforms, and ob structorswhereby a predetermined weight on one platform will actuate the obstructors of the platforms located on the intersecting street to prevent their passage at the crossmg.

4. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism for a street crossing, a vertically movable platform located at each corner of the crossing, an obstructor in front of each platform, and connections between said platforms, and obstructors whereby a predetermined weight on one platform will actuate the obstructors of the platforms located on the intersecting street to prevent their passage at the crossing, without affecting the obstructor of the depressed platform or the one at the opposite corner.

5. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism for a street crossing, a vertically movable platform located at each corner of the crossing, an obstructor in front of each platform, and connections between said platforms, and obstructors whereby a predetermined weight on one platform will actuate the obstructors of some of the others to locate them in the path of passing vehicles, and means for returning said platforms and obstructors to normal position after the passage of the right of way vehicle.

6. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism for a street crossing, a vertically movable platform located at each corner of the crossing,

an obstructor in front of each platform, and

connections between said platforms, and obstructors whereby a predetermined weight on one platform will actuate the obstructors of the platforms located on the intersecting street to prevent their passage at the crossing, without affecting the obstructor of the depressed platform or the one at the opposite corner, levers and chains connecting said platforms and obstructors whereby the de pression of one of said platforms and its obstructor will actuate the obstructors at the corners of the intersecting street.

7. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism for intersecting roads, the combination of an obstructor placed near each corner of the intersection; a vehicle operated mechanism located adjacent each corner of the intersection, connections between said vehicle 0p erated mechanisms and the obstructors whereby a pre-determined weight on one vehicle operated mechanism on one road will actuate the obstructors located on the intersecting road, and means for automatically returning the vehicle operated mechanism and obstructors to their normal positions after said weight has been removed. 5

8. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism for intersecting roads, the combination of an obstructor placed near each corner of the intersection; a vehicle operated mechanism located adjacent each corner of the intersection, connections between said vehicle operated mechanismsand said obstructors, said connections comprising a cable for each vehicle operated mechanism,-and a spring retained rotatable member connected to said cables whereby actuation of one of said vehicle operated mechanisms on one road will actuate obstructors located on-the intersecting road. I

9. In a vehicle obstructing mechanism forintersecting roads, a vertically movable platform located at each corner of the intersection, an obstructor in front of each platform,

connections between said platforms and obstructors, whereby actuation of one platform on one street will actuate obstructors located on the intersecting road or street, an oscillatory part associated with each platform, a bell crank connected to each platform, a link connected to each bell crank and each oscillatory part, and a slotted link connected to each obstructor and each oscillatory part, whereby depression of a platform on one side of the road elevates an obstructor on the intersecting road. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTURO DURAN. Witnesses:

S. J. DWYER, JAMES L. GARZA. 

